What is this?

The Ayatolla

I found this in a drawer, plugged it into the Coaxial input in my TV and it picked up Saorview!

Had been using a rabbits ears all along, so it's proved to be a great space saver, and my rabbits ears was plugged into a wall socket so freed that up as well.

I don't know where it came from, but I'd like to buy another one but don't know what to search for.

Any ideas?

St Senan

its from a telescopic aerial that would come with CRT portable TVs from the middle to late 90s. The aerial would sit down in a slot or hole at the back of the TV

The Ayatolla

Amazing that it's picking up uninterrupted HD signal from saorview. Flawless!

Would love to pick up another one for the other TV in the house, or something similar.

LBK

Maybe a twin-lead to coax. adaptor/balun, prolly to do with portable TV, as mentioned already.

Anyhow, you must be in a really strong signal area for it to work on its own as an aerial. It isn't some kind of magic device that is worth buying more of.

The Ayatolla

LBK wrote: »

Maybe a twin-lead to coax. adaptor/balun, prolly to do with portable TV, as mentioned already.

Anyhow, you must be in a really strong signal area for it to work on its own as an aerial. It isn't some kind of magic device that is worth buying more of.

Exactly, strong signal is what it is. It's just a life saver in terms of no clutter and no clunky rabbits ears plugged in. Another one would be handy is all

The Ayatolla

Thanks for the help folks!

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Black-High-Quality-9-5-mm-Right-Angled-Coaxial-Line-Plug-Fitted-with-Balun-/321165599427?pt=UK_ConElec_TVAerials_RL&hash=item4ac6f622c3

LBK

Another one, plugged into a different TV, in a different part of your house, might not get anything at all.

See the thread in this forum titled "Home made ariel" (should be "aerial").

The Ayatolla

LBK wrote: »

Another one, plugged into a different TV, in a different part of your house, might not get anything at all.

See the thread in this forum titled "Home made ariel" (should be "aerial").

Already tried the one I have in the other TV, works a treat as well.

Will take a look at that thread.

whitebriar

The Ayatolla wrote: »

Already tried the one I have in the other TV, works a treat as well.

Will take a look at that thread.

You'll be alright until weather affects your reception and it will at some point.
Also if the tx ever reduces power for maintenance, say bye bye saorview for a random few days or weeks.

The Ayatolla

whitebriar wrote: »

You'll be alright until weather affects your reception and it will at some point.
say bye bye saorview for a random few days or weeks.

Then I'll take the rabbits ears out of the cupboard?

Gotta love the pessimism on here.

LBK

The Ayatolla wrote: »

Then I'll take the rabbits ears out of the cupboard?

Or attach some kind of aerial to the terminals of the balun, since that is its intended use, not to function as an aerial on its own.

MBSnr

The Ayatolla wrote: »

Gotta love the pessimism on here.

Yeah - if it works don't worry!! I made one of these. Does the job fantastically and I only made it for the hell of it but then the posts/discussion started to tell me that grids don't work that well and the balun I used was incorrect.... I guess people were trying to be helpful but it can come across as negative...

Fuzzy Clam

The Ayatolla wrote: »

I found this in a drawer, plugged it into the Coaxial input in my TV and it picked up Saorview!

Had been using a rabbits ears all along, so it's proved to be a great space saver, and my rabbits ears was plugged into a wall socket so freed that up as well.

I don't know where it came from, but I'd like to buy another one but don't know what to search for.

Any ideas?

That is a balun for a 300 ohm ribbon FM aerial. Converts it to 75 ohm. Usualy comes with the ribbon aerial.

same ol sh1te

The Ayatolla wrote: »

Gotta love the pessimism on here.

Because it's not a fix, it's consisted a botch job to any of us professionals and even the armchair enthusiasts recognise this. There are enough cowboys in this game. If you want a decent signal put a proper uhf panel in your attic or get a professional to put one on your chimney

The Ayatolla

same ol sh1te wrote: »

Because it's not a fix, it's consisted a botch job to any of us professionals and even the armchair enthusiasts recognise this. There are enough cowboys in this game. If you want a decent signal put a proper uhf panel in your attic

But this is working fine at the moment, and my rabbits ears have been working flawlessly for the last 18 months? Why would I go to the hassle of running a cable from my attic to the living room and spend more money on something I don't need?

Professionals lack common sense it seems.

Some are completely missing the point of this thread.

same ol sh1te

The Ayatolla wrote: »

But this is working fine at the moment, and my rabbits ears have been working flawlessly for the last 18 months? Why would I go to the hassle of running a cable from my attic to the living room and spend more money on something I don't need?

Professionals lack common sense it seems.

Some are completely missing the point of this thread.

Seems you completely missed the point of this forum, where people come to seek professional advise

The Ayatolla

same ol sh1te wrote: »

Seems you completely missed the point of this forum, where people come to seek professional advise

Ok, ok, I'l give you 100 euro to install the aerial. I'm sold. When can you come install it?


Terrestrial
All about TV through your aerial, including DTT, deflectors, and analogue reception.

Don't see the word professional (or the word advice) listed anywhere there

Mearings

The Ayatolla wrote: »

But this is working fine at the moment, and my rabbits ears have been working flawlessly for the last 18 months? Why would I go to the hassle of running a cable from my attic to the living room and spend more money on something I don't need? Professionals lack common sense it seems. Some are completely missing the point of this thread.

Living on a mountain has its advantages.

The Ayatolla

Mearings wrote: »

Living on a mountain has its advantages.

Far from it!

same ol sh1te

The Ayatolla wrote: »

Ok, ok, I'l give you 100 euro to install the aerial. I'm sold. When can you come install it?


Terrestrial
All about TV through your aerial, including DTT, deflectors, and analogue reception.

Don't see the word professional (or the word advice) listed anywhere there

Nor do you see the words amateur, botch job or cowboy. It's professional by the type of people who frequent and give out advise here daily. Amateur DIYists are advised/shot down by enthusiasts who are in turn advised/shot down by professionals. You look for advise be prepared to get the best advise available and don't ridicule it like your are doing.

Anyway, I'm out, your thread serves no purpose other than to justify your botch job. We've shot it down so hopefully if it comes up in a search people will realise that.

The Ayatolla

same ol sh1te wrote: »

Nor do you see the words amateur, botch job or cowboy. It's professional by the type of people who frequent and give out advise here daily. Amateur DIYists are advised/shot down by enthusiasts who are in turn advised/shot down by professionals. You look for advise be prepared to get the best advise available and don't ridicule it like your are doing.

Anyway, I'm out, your thread serves no purpose other than to justify your botch job. We've shot it down so hopefully if it comes up in a search people will realise that.

I'm a professional speller. Advice is the word you're looking for.

I suspect your real issue is being gutted that people find work-arounds to the overkill of the "aerial in the attic" or "aerial on the chimney" solution that a lot of people don't need. These kind of work-arounds don't exactly help business for installers. It's okay though, I won't tell anyone!

Instead of moaning, try and improve the solution. Innovate

Linearband

same ol sh1te wrote: »

If you want a decent signal put a proper uhf panel in your attic or get a professional to put one on your chimney

What is a 'proper uhf panel' & why do you recommend its use over any other kind of UHF aerial?

Linearband

same ol sh1te wrote: »

... advised/shot down by enthusiasts who are in turn advised/shot down by professionals.

I wouldn't think it's such a rigid hierarchy. Plenty of times 'professionals' will be shown up by enthusiasts.

same ol sh1te wrote: »

... thread serves no purpose other than to justify your botch job.

I thought it was just some guy who found a doodad that happens to work as an aerial & wanted to know what said doodad actually is.

The Ayatolla

Linearband wrote: »

What is a 'proper uhf panel' & why do you recommend its use over any other kind of UHF aerial?

He can probably charge you more for it ! :D

same ol sh1te

Linearband wrote: »

What is a 'proper uhf panel' & why do you recommend its use over any other kind of UHF aerial?

They're is no blanket best type, it depends on the signal in the area which is affected by many factors including which way your house faces. In some cases a standard wideband uhf bowtie grid will work well and saves figuring out which band yagi you require. With a decent signal you can split to other rooms

http://www.tvtrade.ie/wide-band-grid-uhf-aerial.html

Linearband

I still don't see why you feel justified in lecturing someone on what they can do with their own TV set, in their own home. It's not like there was any element of danger involved.

There were already warnings in the 1st few replies, to the unwary who might stumble across this thread & think these baluns are some kind of wonder device.

same ol sh1te

Linearband wrote: »

I still don't see why you feel justified in lecturing someone on what they can do with their own TV set, in their own home. It's not like there was any element of danger involved.

There were already warnings in the 1st few replies, to the unwary who might stumble across this thread & think these baluns are some kind of wonder device.

The OP ridiculed the pessimists who told him he could not depend upon it for a signal but you're right, they are not wonder devices, a coat hanger or any bit of metal would most likely do the same thing

The Ayatolla

The most humorous part was when someone said that I'd be left with nothing on a wet windy winter night :-P

The horror!!!!

For the record, I have Sky. The saorview is a backup and handy for RTE1 HD.

watty

As well as 300 Ohm ribbon the Balun can match an approximately 15cm loop aerial.

It's totally stupid to recommend it without at least a loop on it. For about 99.5% of people it would be totally unreliable.

About 50cm of stiff 0.5mm to 1mm wire will make a 15cm loop to mount directly on a balun. Only suitable for 10% to 15% of locations. Varnished polished copper or silver plated anything is best. Aluminium is next best, better than Gold! Steel Garden wire is very poor but oddly better than the chrome plated steel these cheap Portable TV loops usually were made of.

winston_1

The Ayatolla wrote: »

The most humorous part was when someone said that I'd be left with nothing on a wet windy winter night :-P

The horror!!!!

For the record, I have Sky. The saorview is a backup and handy for RTE1 HD.

Well don't rely on your rabbits ears either. They are VHF aerials for FM radio or DAB.

The Ayatolla

winston_1 wrote: »

Well don't rely on your rabbits ears either. They are VHF aerials for FM radio or DAB.

I'm old school. It's a "One4All" roundy thingymabob that works off a 220volt socket and has a coax going into the TV. Fairly modern.

This is the best thread ever ☺️

Mearings

It's a hot air balun.

MBSnr

The Ayatolla wrote: »

I'm old school. It's a "One4All" roundy thingymabob that works off a 220volt socket and has a coax going into the TV. Fairly modern.

This is the best thread ever ☺️

Yeah it's kinda funny how it's progressed this thread. You're not allowed to watch TV unless you have an aerial installed that's certified by at least 3 installers, the local TD and a professional golfer.

My aerial works and gives me a picture without breakup in any weather. I made it myself but shhhh...... It's got the wrong thickness of tin foil on it.... So far no one has noticed.

The Ayatolla

MBSnr wrote: »

Yeah it's kinda funny how it's progressed this thread. You're not allowed to watch TV unless you have an aerial installed that's certified by at least 3 installers, the local TD and a professional golfer.

My aerial works and gives me a picture without breakup in any weather. I made it myself but shhhh...... It's got the wrong thickness of tin foil on it.... So far no one has noticed.

Cowboys Ted, they're all a bunch of cowboys!!!

watty

MBSnr wrote: »

Yeah it's kinda funny how it's progressed this thread. You're not allowed to watch TV unless you have an aerial installed that's certified by at least 3 installers, the local TD and a professional golfer.

My aerial works and gives me a picture without breakup in any weather. I made it myself but shhhh...... It's got the wrong thickness of tin foil on it.... So far no one has noticed.

Such a load of stupidity.

This is not after hours.

People come here for help.

It's totally wrong to denigrate experts giving good advice for free.

No-one has to take the advice offered, but it's disgusting to mock it or insist something known to be stupid is a suitable idea to promote.

watty

The Ayatolla wrote: »

I'm old school. It's a "One4All" roundy thingymabob that works off a 220volt socket and has a coax going into the TV. Fairly modern.

This is the best thread ever ☺️

One For All aerials are at least x5 over priced, misleadingly marketed and have VHF as well as UHF. The Expensive mains powered ones have too high a gain amplifier.

I'd only buy a remote from them.

MBSnr

watty wrote: »

Such a load of stupidity.

This is not after hours.

People come here for help.

It's totally wrong to denigrate experts giving good advice for free.

No-one has to take the advice offered, but it's disgusting to mock it or insist something known to be stupid is a suitable idea to promote.

Calm down Watty... He has something that lets him watch TV. He didn't recommend EVERYONE to get one, so how is he (or I) promoting a non suitable idea?

Secondly I didn't mock or denigrate any 'experts'.

The Ayatolla

watty wrote: »

One For All aerials are at least x5 over priced, misleadingly marketed and have VHF as well as UHF. The Expensive mains powered ones have too high a gain amplifier.

I'd only buy a remote from them.

It works.....

MBSnr wrote: »

Calm down Watty... He has something that lets him watch TV. He didn't recommend EVERYONE to get one, so how is he (or I) promoting a non suitable idea?

Secondly I didn't mock or denigrate any 'experts'.

We'll said.

I take great offense to being called a cowboy for putting something that fits into my TV, wait for it, into my TV that let's me receive Saorview. I'm a qualified tradesman, a trade which I excelled at practically and academically. A cowboy, I ain't.

I am exceptionally close to a mast in Cork. I'd probably pick up a signal with a hair clip. What's next, cancer warnings?

lertsnim

The Ayatolla wrote: »

I'm a professional speller. Advice is the word you're looking for

That's debatable.

The Ayatolla wrote: »

We'll said.

The word you are looking for is well.

After you criticised someone for their spelling you should have made sure that your spelling is correct.

The Ayatolla

lertsnim wrote: »

That's debatable.



The word you are looking for is well.

After you criticised someone for their spelling you should have made sure that your spelling is correct.

I'll blame iOS' auto correct on that one :pac::pac::pac:

Na na na na na na!

PS, it was a joke. I'm not a professional speller. I've a better job.

cjt156

Typical of the jumped up bullsh!tters on this forum. The chap found something that worked for him and just asked did anyone know what it was. Then he's attacked erroneously for recommending it as a solution by the 'professionals'.

Well I'm not a professional. I've got a Maplins antenna in my attic, an eBay dish on my garage roof and a couple of Amazon FreeSat boxes. I'm getting perfect SaorView and FreeSat on 2 TVs. And not a penny spent on 'professionals', did it all myself. I suppose I'm a cowboy too?

If you can hang a shelf and wire a plug you can install a TV system. But don't offend the gods of the Tv forum, you'd better call a 'professional'.

The Ayatolla

cjt156 wrote: »

Typical of the jumped up bullsh!tters on this forum. The chap found something that worked for him and just asked did anyone know what it was. Then he's attacked erroneously for recommending it as a solution by the 'professionals'.

Well I'm not a professional. I've got a Maplins antenna in my attic, an eBay dish on my garage roof and a couple of Amazon FreeSat boxes. I'm getting perfect SaorView and FreeSat on 2 TVs. And not a penny spent on 'professionals', did it all myself. I suppose I'm a cowboy too?

If you can hang a shelf and wire a plug you can install a TV system. But don't offend the gods of the Tv forum, you'd better call a 'professional'.

I think it's the case that some guys built their careers around installing TV systems, even ones as basic as Saorview. They get a bit rattled if someone tells a few home truths about how easy it actually is.

09Dan

cjt156 wrote: »

... The chap found something that worked for him and just asked did anyone know what it was.

As far as I can see, he just started the thread to have a go at the installation business (& seemingly boast about his own job, though without saying what it actually is). "What is this?" is only a cover for the real purpose of denigrating another trade.

cjt156 wrote: »

If you can hang a shelf and wire a plug you can install a TV system.

The amount of stuff I've seen rolling off shelves around the country ...

Yourself & the Ayatolla are just more examples of "it works for me so must be universal". Usually spotted around here when Lidl or Aldi have aerials on sale.

The Ayatolla

09Dan wrote: »

Yourself & the Ayatolla are just more examples of "it works for me so must be universal". Usually spotted around here when Lidl or Aldi have aerials on sale.

What are ya on about. I already said I live less that a stones throw from one of RTE's masts. I have family that live in the back arse of the country. This won't work for them by any stretch, I installed an aerial for them in their attic. Took all of 20mins and I bought the aerial on eBay.

09Dan

The Ayatolla wrote: »

I have family that live in the back arse of the country. This won't work for them by any stretch

Most of the 2rn main transmitters are in locations that would qualify as "the back arse of the country", coverage based on area rather than being directed at a specific population centre. Also fill-ins in places.

Living in a rural area doesn't automatically mean poor signal.

The Ayatolla

09Dan wrote: »

Most of the 2rn main transmitters are in locations that would qualify as "the back arse of the country", coverage based on area rather than being directed at a specific population centre. Also fill-ins in places.

Living in a rural area doesn't automatically mean poor signal.

Their signal strength is extremely poor, we couldn't pick up anything with a rabbits ears and had to go with the aerial on the roof. We tried the attic then afterwards and that worked so we kept it in the attic.

09Dan

The Ayatolla wrote: »

Their signal strength is extremely poor, we couldn't pick up anything with a rabbits ears and had to go with the aerial on the roof. We tried the attic then afterwards and that worked so we kept it in the attic.

The transmission network is planned with rooftop aerials in mind (10 metres AGL). Getting no signal with a "rabbits ears" does not mean the signal is "extremely poor".

The fact that an attic aerial works satisfactorily would suggest they are actually in a rather good signal area.

The Ayatolla

09Dan wrote: »

The transmission network is planned with rooftop aerials in mind (10 metres AGL). Getting no signal with a "rabbits ears" does not mean the signal is "extremely poor".

The fact that an attic aerial works satisfactorily would suggest they are actually in a rather good signal area.

Even in an upstairs bedroom you'd still expect something with a small aerial.

09Dan

The Ayatolla wrote: »

Even in an upstairs bedroom you'd still expect something with a small aerial.

Something? In every location that is deemed to be "covered" where the relevant spec. fixed outdoor receiving installation is used, & even this doesn't take into account local clutter like trees?

Indoor reception is always going to be possible at more locations in the cities served by a nearby transmitter of reasonable power, such as Dublin (Three Rock), Cork (Spur Hill) & Limerick (Woodcock Hill), simply by virtue of there being more people living in the strong signal area near the transmiision site.

It should also be pretty obvious that other locations, that more than meet the actual coverage criteria e.g. places where attic reception is satisfactory, are NOT in a poor signal area.

Jpmarn

I imagine there might be people living up a mountain under shadow of a transmitter.

09Dan

Jpmarn wrote: »

I imagine there might be people living up a mountain under shadow of a transmitter.

What do you mean by "under shadow"?